Lette returned to the reliable grocery store with the two won and set up a barrier around the entire courtyard.
Lilith heard Lette co back and hurried out of the warehouse.
"What’s going on?"
"We encountered The Liar Demon."
"Huh?"
Lilith, who was currently rging with the concept of Desecration, wasn’t particularly keen.
"How did it turn out? Is Unica injured? What about you two?"
"Let’s talk inside."
Lette took the two won and placed Unica on Emily’s bed, then briefly explained the situation to Lilith.
When Lilith heard words like Sea Sacrifice and Tower of Truth’s treasures, her expression turned grim as well.
"Sea Sacrifice Witchcraft, this is quite troubleso now."
Emily, clueless, asked: "Is it really troubleso? I rember Lette saying last ti that witchcraft was replaced by Magic.
It shouldn’t be that troubleso, right?"
Lette shook his head: "The troubleso part of Sea Sacrifice Witchcraft isn’t the witchcraft itself, but the priest.
In ancient tis, the targets of sacrifices were not the so-called gods; they were more inclined to make sacrifices to the original form."
"What... does that an? I didn’t quite get it."
"Take sea sacrifice as an example. Their sacrificial object is the sea, not the Sea God.
They don’t believe there is a god managing the sea; they think the sea is a separate entity.
They make sacrifices to the sea, the mountains, the rushing rivers.
This is why the objects of sacrifice shifted from the Divine to more primordial elents.
These blind and devout sacrifices have severe consequences."
Emily cautiously asked: "How severe can it be?"
Lette rubbed his temples and said: "When you pray to the River God with a sacrifice, the River God responds to you.
Praying to the [river], it’s fine if there’s no response.
Once there’s a response, who or what responds to you...
It’s hard to say.
But this sacrificial thod has its drawbacks. At least when praying to gods, the target is clear.
Provided the thods are right and the offerings suitable.
Even if the Divine doesn’t grant your wishes, at the very least, they’ll acknowledge you.
But these ancient sea and river sacrifices might not yield a single response even if done a hundred tis.
To put it this way, offering to the [Sea God] is like mailing a letter, while offering to the [sea] is like throwing a drifting bottle.
Thus, gradually, letters replaced drifting bottles.
However!"
Lette made a sudden turn: "So ancient sacrificial traditions have found certain thods or summarized so experiential rules after countless trials and errors.
The odds of their drifting bottles being picked up are significantly higher!
For others, maybe one out of a thousand might be found, but they might get a response after tossing just ten.
The longer the tradition and the more trials, the higher the chances!
This is exactly what’s terrifying about these ancient sacrifices.
That Fish Bone Knife should be key to the sacrifice.
It might even be one of the Tower of Truth’s storages."
Speaking of this, Lette looked at Unica lying on the bed.
"Detective Miss, having heard so many incomprehensible things, isn’t it ti to open your eyes? A little advice: playing dead in front of a much stronger individual is futile."
Unica opened her eyes and smiled awkwardly.
"I... I just didn’t know... I was just quite confused."
"Understood."
"What exactly are you all talking about?"
Lette pinched his brow: "That’s... quite a loaded question. Where should I start?
The War of Gods a thousand years ago, or the Battle of the Truth’s Fall a hundred years ago, or perhaps the Witch Hunt Movent fifty years ago..."
At this mont, Emily volunteered: "This ti, let tell it!"
"You?"
Lette thought for a mont: "Alright, you start, and I’ll fill in."
So, after nearly an hour of narration, Emily finally managed to tell Unica so key information.
Thanks to Lette and Lilith’s additions, combined with Unica’s keen and exceptional detective instinct, they barely managed to cope with the task.
"So, I’m one of the seven Witches?"
Unica pointed at Emily: "You’re another one, and another will arrive in a couple of days. And the newly-appointed Holy Light Twin Goddess was once a Witch?
And you, are you the illustrious Lord Holy Sin, not just a nasake?
Now, a very powerful Demon is planning to pull our entire town into... the Dream Realm?"
"If that’s too hard to grasp, think of it as sacrificing, sacrificing the entire place with the people to gain power."
Unica nodded: "The fog, the eeriness, and the panic are all the Demon’s doing.
But his real target is Dragon Island?
But hasn’t Dragon Island disappeared?"
Lette nodded slightly: "From today’s encounter, Dragon Island probably hid itself. His power is already stretched at the Harbor.
I doubt he has the capability to hide Dragon Island himself.
Of course, it’s just my guess. It could also be that he already dealt with Dragon Island, which is why he is so weak now.
Both the maximum and minimum extents of lies are imnse; they can’t be asured by conventional ans.
However!"
Lette smiled at the three girls: "Today’s practice proved the effectiveness of the Blood and Flesh God Sect.
As long as this Church is expanded, it will surely beco a formidable weapon against lies in the future!
I told you, I don’t engage in aningless endeavors."
Unica paused for a mont: "You’re talking about that peculiar pose-striking church?"
"Exactly!"
Unica rubbed her head: "Sorry, there’s just too much to process at once, and I’m having trouble digesting it all; please give so ti."
"Ti we have. If you can’t figure it all out imdiately, take your ti to ponder.
But I hope you rember one thing.
We are on the sa side as you. And everything we do is to thwart The Liar Demon’s conspiracy and save Harbor City.
I believe, at least on this point, we can work together."
Unica felt that Lette made a reasonable point and nodded.
"At least when it cos to ensuring Harbor City’s safety, it is my duty."
Lette stood up: "Tonight, you can rest with Emily. Tomorrow, you can move here to stay."
"Huh? But..."
Unica was still hesitant, but Lette waved his finger.
"Now you have been targeted by that serial killer. If you continue living in your current ho, it will involve those around you.
And since you’ve learned so much, I can’t let you leave.
Unless you’re willing to forget everything about tonight, then I might let you go.
Even, I could remove the Witch Power within you to free you from this curse, returning you to ordinary life.
All this depends on your choice."
Unica shook her head firmly: "I... as a detective of Kedrus Harbor City, how can I choose to retreat?
If this curse truly killed my mother and grandmother, and so many innocent people!
I will not let it go easily!
Anyone who brings tragedy to the people is my enemy!"
Lette nodded appreciatively: "Well said, now you two get so rest. Once you’ve sorted it all out, you can co to discuss cooperation with ."
"Um..."
Unica suddenly raised her hand: "I... I must make a declaration. I am willing to stay, but I... I’m not agreeing to be your companion or plaything, nor will I serve as a concubine!
I... I believe that relationships between n and won should be nurtured first before talking about such things.
Besides, I’m still young...
Of course, not that I dislike you. Mr. Wright, you are excellent, and indeed my ideal type..."
"Please, wait a minute!"
Lette made a pause gesture and then asked very seriously.
"Please explain in 140 words why there’s such a misunderstanding about ? Do I look like the kind of scum who’d make a girl I’ve only t twice serve as a concubine?"
"Tonight’s sun is so big, round, and bright! For so reason, I suddenly feel like going for a morning run!"
Emily turned to walk out, only to be pulled back by a Holy Light Chain conjured by Lette.
"Where do you think you’re going?"
"Ahem, can we discuss it outside? Please..."
"Alright then, main culprit!"
Lette dragged the tied-up Emily out, while Lilith waved to Unica, covering her mouth and laughing as she followed them out.
In the courtyard, Lette stared at Emily.
"Speak, confess and face leniency, resist and face strictness."
"Confess and face leniency, resist and face strictness."
"Who told you to repeat ? I’m telling you to confess!"
Lette grinned, baring his white teeth: "Depending on your answer, I’ll consider making a stew, chopping, slicing, or wrapping dumplings together."
"Oh~ it’s not as serious as you think."
Emily’s eyes began to dart around: "We were just chatting, trying to get closer and open the situation.
We are both detectives, so I started with the profession.
Then she asked why I desired to beco a detective.
I said it was to maintain law and order, to safeguard a land. She didn’t quite believe and pointed out that I hadn’t been in Harbor City long enough to care for it.
I panicked when I saw she lost trust in , so I said you forced into it.
She asked why.
I... I said you had quirks and were impulsive towards won in strong professions."
Lette gritted his teeth in frustration: "Not to ntion you framing , who taught you such nonsense?"
"Co on, I am still a noble, even though I’m fallen, I’ve seen the world.
Many nobles with power have peculiar eccentricities. Honestly, your hobby is quite mild.
I rely enriched your character! Made your noble identity more credible!"
"I do not have such a hobby!"
"I know, I was just trying to relate to her!"
Emily smiled awkwardly: "I was forced and made things up on the spot; I didn’t expect her to suddenly sympathize with and change her attitude drastically!
Then I thought, right! She’s a detective, surely she protects the weak and is compassionate.
So, I started complaining to her, condemning your daily tornt and playful antics.
But, perhaps I went too far.
She got really angry and said she had to help free from your grasp.
Ahem, I said it was too late.
I’m deeply entangled now, and can no longer leave you."
Lette felt dizzy, as if the world were spinning.
"My... innocence! My, one! Life! Achieve! thod!
Lilith laughed until her stomach hurt, but she forced herself to stand up and asked: "Then that’s odd: given the situation, why did she let you return ho while patrolling alone?
You... never told the truth from the start, right?"
Emily blushed: "Actually, I exaggerated too convincingly, fabricated too much detail.
I previously told her that Lette would be especially anticipating tonight because today marks my appointnt as Chief Detective!
So when I proposed patrolling together, she brought it up, asking if I wasn’t supposed to return to serve Lette?
After all, it’s the first day as Chief Detective...
To keep up the pretense, I had to return alone..."
"Wait!"
Lette, who had been looking pained all this while, suddenly had a revelation, ignoring his damaged reputation.
"To keep up the pretense! Yes! I knew sothing didn’t feel right! It was about keeping up the pretense! The Liar Demon acted tonight to keep up the pretense!"
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